Olivia Ruth Solley

Olivia Ruth Solley, of Groesbeck, passed away at Brookdale Lake Shore Assisted Living Facility in Waco, on Sunday, May 24, 2015, at age 91. Visitation will be Tuesday, May 26, 2015, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at Groesbeck Funeral Home. Services will be held in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel at 2:00 P.M. on Wednesday, May 27, 2015, with Pastor David Murphy, her nephew, of Calvary Baptist Church of Bryan officiating. Burial will follow in the Thornton Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Eddy Armstrong, Justin Grimes, Glyn Murphy, Jerry Murphy, Kevin Reeves, and Doug Yarbrough. Honorary pallbearers will be Larry Murphy and Chester Reeves. Ruth was born July 1, 1923 to R. C. and Olivia Murphy in Kosse. She grew up in Thornton and attended Thornton High School. Ruth married Oral Solley on December 20, 1941 while he was a soldier in the 101st. Airborne Division. After his discharge in 1944, they moved to Houston where they lived for the next thirty-nine years. She loved to shop and to travel. They enjoyed fishing, camping, and traveling throughout the United States in their travel trailer. She spent many hours doing volunteer work. She worked with the Easter Seals organization as a district chairperson for many years. She also volunteered for many years at the Heart of Texas Fair and Rodeo. Ruth retired from Houston I.S.D. as a teacher of Driver’s Education. She loved working with the students and taught in many high schools across Houston. Although she never had sewing lessons, she was an excellent seamstress. She loved sewing for her daughter and especially her beloved granddaughter, Traci. She enjoyed making dresses, western wear, formals, and quilts, and she excelled in all types of arts and crafts. She received numerous Blue, Red, and White ribbons for her accomplishments in many shows. Ruth was a devout Christian. She loved serving the Lord, and while at Victory Baptist Church, she spent many hours writing and sending Birthday, Get-Well, Sympathy cards and letters of encouragement to all church members. Her greatest joy was sharing with others God’s Plan of Salvation. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, R.C. and Olivia Murphy; her husband, Oral Solley (9-22-1987); seven brothers, Edgar Murphy, Alva Murphy, Fred Murphy, Richard Cleburne Murphy, Oscar Murphy, Frank Murphy, and R. C. Murphy, Jr.; and a sister, Tina Mae Murphy. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Betty and Chester Reeves of Thornton; her granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Traci and Justin Grimes of Pflugerville; great grandson, Hunter Grimes of Pflugerville; step grandchildren: Kevin and Rebecca Reeves of Thornton, Carla Reeves of Kerrville, Billy Reeves of Thornton; step great-grandchildren, Katie Reeves of Thornton, Chelsey Ward and husband Jody of Fairfield, Brittany Myers-Reeves of Houston, Kyle Reeves of Conroe; step great-great grandson, Kolbryn Myers-Reeves of Houston; and numerous nieces and nephews.